Customer Reviews

Thru the Years

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Another collection of out takes from Mayall's period with Decca [UK] and London [US] circa 1964-1968, features another pile of "lost" tracks, two early tracks with Roger Dean on guitar, one with Bernie Watson, the treasure, 8 with Peter Green [icluding 3 tracks without Mayall credited to just the Bluesbreakers, at the time, Green, John McVie and Aynsley Dunbar] and three tracks featuring Mick Taylor. Being out takes, the quality varies from track to track, so don't expect totally polished complete performances.

Of the first three tracks, "Crocodile Walk" is good, "My Baby Is Sweeter" is unremarkable and "Crawling Up A Hill" is fair, sounding like a ? and the Mysterians/ garage band circa 1965 that hasn't quite worked up to "Psychotic Reaction."

Now for the Green tracks. "Mama Talk to Your Daughter" is the JB Lenoir song, Green playing subdued and pretty sraight blues. "Alabama Blues" features just Green playing and singing. "Out of Reach" introduces Green's soon to be signature reverb; this song is the forerunner of Fleetwood Mac's "Love That Burns." The Bluesbreakers tracks,"Greeny" is a jazzy instrumental, with tasteful work by Green; "Curly" is a heavy rave up, probably influenced by Cream; "Missing You" is is a nice track with good harmonica [!] work by Green, a track I am sure Rory Gallagher copied.

The Boss [Mayall] is back on "Please Don't Tell" with a good harmonica solo by Mayall and the Bluesbreakers cooking behind him. Green's solo shows real fire. "Your Funeral and My Trial" is another cooker, but it's pretty unremarkable.

On the three Taylor tracks, the first two have the horns that many said "ruined" Mayall as he tried incorporating jazz. The first cut "Suspicions [Part I]" is okay, Taylor ripping off some great guitar work. "Knockers Step Forward" is an almost psychedelic instrumental, something you might hear on one of the hip episodes of 'Adam 12' or the girls would dance around in the day glow paint to on 'Laugh In.' But having said that, it cooks really nicely. "Hide and Seek" is Mayall back to roots, an almost Cream liek fairly straight blues.

It's a fair album, probably essential to Peter Green fans [self included] for those cuts. Not a BAD introduction or overview of Mayall, but I would recommend the Bluesbreakers featuring Eric Clapton or A Hard Road [with PG] first.

This album has some of my favorite blues numbers of all time and features some great songs by Peter Green, who subsequently joined Fleetwood Mac, and Mick Taylor who left the Blues Breakers to join the Stones. The instrumental "Greeny" is Peter Green at his bluesy best and "Curly" is one of his best rockin' tunes. "Alabama Blues" and "Out Of Reach" are two slow, mournful songs which feature his fine haunting vocals as well as excellent guitar work. Mick Taylor cuts loose with blistering speed on the instrumental "Knockers Step Forward" and John Mayall sings the vocals on one of his classics: "Mama, Talk To Your Daughter". All in all this is a great album for any blues fan.

I just ordered this album. I had it as an LP back in the 70s. I loved it then, and it will be good to hear it again. I particularly like the instrumental "Curly," which is just a good blues on electric guitar; nothing complex, but played with feeling. No one else has mentioned it, and no one else seems affected by it. (?)

I found this used for $3.50 at an FYE storewide clearance sale. I have Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton and I am not at all familiar with Mayall's other work, and I thought I had found a "greatest hits" collection of 60s Mayall sans Clapton, that had a lot of Peter Green tracks, and a few Mick Taylor cuts (I'm a Stones collector). So I was mildly disappointed upon reading the liner notes that this is actually a collection of outtakes and non-LP singles pressed for the UK market. Then I listened to the CD and I am no longer disappointed! A very nice collection of British blues, even tho a few appear to need more development. The CD starts off a little shaky with very early outtakes of pre-Clapton Bluesbreakers, followed by a superb run of cuts featuring Peter Green. Simply whets my appetite for more! The Taylor cuts are what I would expect, featuring fluid guitar work from the future Rolling Stone. While it's not what I expected, I like it and maybe this will lead me to search out more 60s Mayall and the Bluesbreakers.

A grab bag of rare tracks from the '60s, some of which stand among Mayall's finest. The eight songs featuring Peter Green include some top-notch material that outpaces much of the only album recorded by the Green lineup (A Hard Road), particularly the Green originals "Missing You" and "Out of Reach," a great B-side with devastating, icy guitar lines and downbeat lyrics that ranks as one of the great lost blues-rock cuts of the '60s. The set is filled out with a few songs from the Mick Taylor era, the highlight being the vicious instrumental "Knockers Step Forward."

I'm 52.I bought this recording when I was 16,the vynil one,as you can imagine.It's a masterpiece.Peter green is one of the best blues guitars I ever heard.I've been looking for this cd several ,several years.Finally I found it throguh AMAZON.Terrific.Im[pressive.Unforgetable Amazon

As a Mayall Fanatic, I enjoy this album for previously unreleased John Mayall, Peter Green and Mick Taylor tracks. There are definitely some great tracks such as 'Out of Reach', 'Greeny', 'Hide and Seek'. But as an overall presentation, it is definitely a collection of second best tracks left off other albums.